The Area electric power system, or Area EPS, is an electric power system that serves Local EPSs. It usually belongs to and is run by the distribution utility, while the Local EPS on the customer premises usually belongs to the customer. An Area EPS typically has primary access to public rights-of-way and is subject to regulatory oversight. The Area EPS and the Local EPS meet at the point of common coupling, and adding a distributed energy resource to the Area EPS is called interconnection. For short-circuit faults on the Area EPS circuit section it is connected to, the DER must cease to energize and trip unless the Area EPS operator specifies otherwise. A DER can make utility fault detection less sensitive, so protection settings may need adjusting, and a ground source in the Local EPS can backfeed the distribution system.
subclass_ofc1 drafted · lead Electric power system proposed
Area EPS is defined as an EPS that serves Local EPSs; the EPS covers both the area EPS and the local EPS.
sec=3.1 h=68ae59f1e15esec=2.0 h=d26db103fe48related_toc2 verified · fact Local electric power system proposed
The Area EPS serves Local EPSs; a Local EPS sits within one premises or group of premises and is usually customer-owned.
sec=2.0 h=d26db103fe48sec=3.1 h=68ae59f1e15everified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24
c3 drafted · lead Point of common coupling proposed
The PCC is where the Area EPS and the Local EPS connect.
sec=2.0 h=d26db103fe48An island is a part of the Area EPS that is cut off from the rest of the Area EPS and energized only by Local EPSs.
sec=2.0 h=d26db103fe48c5 drafted · lead Distributed energy resource
Interconnection is the process of adding DER to an Area EPS.
sec=2.0 h=d26db103fe48c6 drafted · lead Area EPS operator proposed
This is the entity that designs, builds, operates and maintains the Area EPS.
sec=3.1 h=e8ed72d87b6bsec=3.1 h=68ae59f1e15ec7 drafted · lead Cease to energize
The DER must cease to energize the Area EPS when there are faults on the Area EPS circuit it is connected to.
sec=6.2.1 h=0059dd9068easec=4.2.1 h=225f360a8595related_to c5related_to c6related_to c3related_to c6related_to c6related_to c2